Lakeshore Park, Novi – 2022 Design Award Winner
Earlier this month, parks and recreation professionals from across the state gathered at the annual mParks Conference. I had the opportunity to share what SEMCOG has learned about the New Future of Southeast Michigan Parks, Trails and Recreation.
It was interesting to learn from others about how new priorities have turned into action, and/or new barriers faced. It was common to hear in many discussions that 1) park use continues to be higher than it was before the pandemic, and 2) staffing shortages remain a challenge for many parks departments, impacting their ability to provide recreation programs, planning services, and environmental maintenance.
The conference is also an opportunity to celebrate achievements from the past year. It was exciting to see so many Southeast Michigan communities honored with mParks annual awards for Innovative Programming and Park Design! This year’s winners represent a broad range of best practices to learn from or inspire your next outdoor adventure:
Innovative Programming Awards
- Stuffed Animal Sleepover – West Bloomfield Parks & Recreation Commission
- Reinventing programming has been a common theme for parks and recreation throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This virtual program created a safe and fun experience for kids that also translated well through social media. Parents could drop off their children’s stuffed animals to the Parks Department for a night, where staff photographed and documented their sleepover on the parks’ social media. Participants received a special slideshow link at the end with photos of all their adventures, and parks staff hosted a virtual bedtime story for children to join and watch live.
- Diwali Festival of Lights – City of Auburn Hills
- Diwali is a significant holiday for the Hindu community, celebrating the light within. The Festival of Lights has become a favorite event in the City of Auburn Hills for staff, volunteers, and the community. The event first launched in the midst of the pandemic, and has already grown to include activities such as a diya lamp craft, henna art, rangoli art and sidewalk chalk, classical dance performances, and ending the evening in a glow roll celebration. With an intentional focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, Auburn Hills worked with a committee to plan and host the event in a culturally relevant and accurate way.
- Self-Guided Maple Syrup Tour – Huron-Clinton Metroparks
- Through the pandemic, the Metroparks’ Interpretive Services staff has provided virtual activities and self-guided resources for teachers and parents alike. This tour was developed by multiple staff over seven Metroparks, working as a team to create a sweet story for visitors who wanted to enjoy a maple sugar tour at their own pace and with their family. Seven tour topics were identified, scripted, filmed, edited and produced all in house by Interpretive staff. Once the videos were complete, QR codes were developed and used in coordination with marketing, signage, and social media content.
- Disability Dirt Day – Oakland County Parks and Recreation
- Since its highly anticipated September 2020 opening, Holly Oaks ORV Park has been a unique destination for all types of outdoor recreational vehicles, attracting guests from Southeast Michigan and beyond. It was important to Oakland County Parks and Recreation staff that these types of experiences continue to be accessible to all interested users. Disability Dirt Day was a collaborative effort between staff and volunteers to create new program opportunities for individuals with disabilities, and hosted guests in the fresh, outdoor air with the bumpy, hilly, and muddy terrain, providing a thrilling experience for many participants.
- DEI Event Series – Canton Leisure Services
- In 2021 Canton Leisure Services hosted their first Diwali and Pride celebrations in Heritage Park. Both events were part of the department’s DEI initiatives and the “You Belong Here” campaign, promoting to residents that there is a place for them in Canton’s programs and facilities. In July, over 300 guests dressed in rainbow colors for a Pride OUTside event, with the goal of promoting safe spaces in parks and recreation. In October, over 450 guests in Indian cultural dress gathered around the stage covered in colored lights and luminaries to celebrate light over darkness and good over evil. Both events included speakers, performances, activities, local vendors, and food.
Design Awards
- Lily Pad Springs Splash Park – West Bloomfield Parks & Recreation Commission
- Lily Pad Springs Splash Park opened in 2021. It was constructed over two years following the demolition of an aging aquatic facility. The complete park renovation included a new parking lot, storm water management, temperature controlled bathrooms/ mechanical building, ticket building/changing area, and a 5,500-square foot splash pad that is currently the largest in Michigan. In its first season, this brand new state-of-the-art splash pad hosted 33,000 participants, generating $165,000 in revenue with a net revenue of $67,000. Lily Pad Springs exemplifies West Bloomfield’s commitment to provide world-class facilities for residents.
- Lakeshore Park Renovation – City of Novi Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services
- Often described as the “Up North in Novi”, Lakeshore Park is Novi’s largest and draws thousands of visitors year-round to enjoy the beach, hiking and biking trails, picnic shelters, summer camp, sand volleyball, sledding and cross-country skiing, events, and more. To ensure the park continues to be a desirable, safe, and accessible location for residents and visitors, a recent renovation has included a new 6,400 square foot camp lodge building, enhanced play structures, paved roads and parking, a new picnic shelter, a dedicated bike lane and pedestrian sidewalks, and Michigan’s only library vending kiosk. Not only is the park redesign aesthetically pleasing, but emphasis has been placed on inclusivity, accessibility, and sustainability.
- Hills 275 Trailhead – City of Farmington Hills Department of Special Services
- Hills 275 Trailhead was built as a Planned Unit Development between a nearby hotel, historic home, and the City of Farmington Hills. Hills 275 Trailhead provides dedicated parking for I-275 Metro Trail users, and offers amenities including a water bottle filling station, bike racks, seating, trail information, and a bike repair station. Trail users now have a safe way to access the I-275 Metro Trail and the regional network of natural assets it connects. In honor of its creation, Farmington Brewing Company developed Hills 275 Trailhead IPA, which is now served at Farmington Brewing Company and Farmington Hills Community Center.
- Johnson Creek Fish Hatchery Restoration – Northville Parks and Recreation
- The Johnson Creek Habitat Restoration Project, located within Northville’s historic Fish Hatchery Park, lies within the Rouge River Watershed. To address impaired habitat conditions, this project cleaned up and reconstructed the banks of Johnson Creek and the spring-fed pond in the park. An existing concrete wall was removed, the pond was transformed into a step pool to facilitate the movement of fish. The bank naturalization included planting 350 native plants and 250 trees, and installing a vegetative swale to manage stormwater from the parking lot. The new streambank along the creek provides clean, native riparian habitat, and pedestrian access to the water was also enhanced.
- The Hawk – City of Farmington Hills Department of Special Services
- In June 2021, the Farmington Hills Community Center, The Hawk, officially opened. This innovative 245,000-square foot community center and 45-acre park now provides a hub for residents and guests to enjoy visual and performing arts, aquatics, fitness, and athletics, along with many other recreational programs, camps, competitions and events. The Hawk repurposes the former Harrison High School into a state-of-the-art Community Center, and demonstrates the City’s dedication to the physical, emotional, educational, and social well-being of every resident and guest.
- Rutherford Pool Bathhouse Renovation – City of Ypsilanti Parks and Recreation
- Rutherford Pool is a well-loved facility serving a diverse range of community members from across the City of Ypsilanti and surrounding area. It was originally built in 1971 with a projected life span of twenty-five years. With close attention to annual repairs and the tireless dedication of the staff, the life span of the pool was stretched to over forty years. After formidable grassroots fundraising of over $700,000, they were finally able to move forward on much needed renovations to the locker rooms and bathhouse, including fully accessible and modernized facilities, native landscaping, solar power.
Congratulations to these SEMCOG members and other mParks award winners! Learn more about these parks, and discover other outdoor opportunities close to home with the Southeast Michigan ParkFinder®.
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